Data / Rankings / Covered employment (QCEW) / Counties in Illinois

Counties in Illinois by covered employment (QCEW)

Cook County had the highest covered employment (QCEW) of 102 counties in 2017, at 2,572,191 jobs. Pope County had the lowest, at 602 jobs. The median was 7,836 jobs and the figure for Illinois was 5,934,549 jobs. Source: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest2,572,191Cook County
Lowest602Pope County
Median7,836102 counties
Illinois5,934,549History

Map of counties, 2017

Adams County: 32,821 jobsAlexander County: 1,198 jobsBond County: 4,730 jobsBoone County: 16,356 jobsBrown County: 4,127 jobsBureau County: 11,898 jobsCalhoun County: 760 jobsCarroll County: 3,894 jobsCass County: 5,501 jobsChampaign County: 90,028 jobsChristian County: 10,062 jobsClark County: 4,654 jobsClay County: 5,336 jobsClinton County: 12,243 jobsColes County: 24,256 jobsCook County: 2,572,191 jobsCrawford County: 7,115 jobsCumberland County: 2,783 jobsDeKalb County: 37,638 jobsDe Witt County: 5,172 jobsDouglas County: 7,496 jobsDuPage County: 620,473 jobsEdgar County: 7,212 jobsEdwards County: 2,335 jobsEffingham County: 21,690 jobsFayette County: 5,282 jobsFord County: 4,505 jobsFranklin County: 8,383 jobsFulton County: 8,346 jobsGallatin County: 1,245 jobsGreene County: 2,316 jobsGrundy County: 19,200 jobsHamilton County: 2,051 jobsHancock County: 4,014 jobsHardin County: 675 jobsHenderson County: 1,072 jobsHenry County: 13,760 jobsIroquois County: 7,958 jobsJackson County: 24,464 jobsJasper County: 1,922 jobsJefferson County: 19,817 jobsJersey County: 4,959 jobsJo Daviess County: 7,421 jobsJohnson County: 2,302 jobsKane County: 209,820 jobsKankakee County: 44,961 jobsKendall County: 28,503 jobsKnox County: 18,120 jobsLake County: 335,598 jobsLaSalle County: 42,841 jobsLawrence County: 4,600 jobsLee County: 13,153 jobsLivingston County: 13,720 jobsLogan County: 9,182 jobsMcDonough County: 10,908 jobsMcHenry County: 97,742 jobsMcLean County: 83,436 jobsMacon County: 49,320 jobsMacoupin County: 10,347 jobsMadison County: 98,819 jobsMarion County: 12,828 jobsMarshall County: 2,926 jobsMason County: 3,121 jobsMassac County: 3,022 jobsMenard County: 1,736 jobsMercer County: 3,069 jobsMonroe County: 8,692 jobsMontgomery County: 8,865 jobsMorgan County: 14,008 jobsMoultrie County: 4,891 jobsOgle County: 15,900 jobsPeoria County: 103,264 jobsPerry County: 4,657 jobsPiatt County: 3,531 jobsPike County: 3,961 jobsPope County: 602 jobsPulaski County: 1,850 jobsPutnam County: 1,847 jobsRandolph County: 12,274 jobsRichland County: 6,070 jobsRock Island County: 73,871 jobsSt. Clair County: 93,862 jobsSaline County: 7,713 jobsSangamon County: 129,179 jobsSchuyler County: 1,556 jobsScott County: 1,029 jobsShelby County: 4,872 jobsStark County: 1,341 jobsStephenson County: 17,336 jobsTazewell County: 50,089 jobsUnion County: 4,904 jobsVermilion County: 26,918 jobsWabash County: 3,202 jobsWarren County: 6,435 jobsWashington County: 6,257 jobsWayne County: 3,681 jobsWhite County: 4,247 jobsWhiteside County: 20,746 jobsWill County: 239,989 jobsWilliamson County: 28,335 jobsWinnebago County: 126,019 jobsWoodford County: 10,138 jobs
  • Under 10K
  • 10K to 40K
  • 40K and over
jobs, 2017. Source: BLS, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

Top 40 counties, 2017

Cook County: 2,572,191 jobsCook County2,572,191DuPage County: 620,473 jobsDuPage County620,473Lake County: 335,598 jobsLake County335,598Will County: 239,989 jobsWill County239,989Kane County: 209,820 jobsKane County209,820Sangamon County: 129,179 jobsSangamon County129,179Winnebago County: 126,019 jobsWinnebago County126,019Peoria County: 103,264 jobsPeoria County103,264Madison County: 98,819 jobsMadison County98,819McHenry County: 97,742 jobsMcHenry County97,742St. Clair County: 93,862 jobsSt. Clair County93,862Champaign County: 90,028 jobsChampaign County90,028McLean County: 83,436 jobsMcLean County83,436Rock Island County: 73,871 jobsRock Island County73,871Tazewell County: 50,089 jobsTazewell County50,089Macon County: 49,320 jobsMacon County49,320Kankakee County: 44,961 jobsKankakee County44,961LaSalle County: 42,841 jobsLaSalle County42,841DeKalb County: 37,638 jobsDeKalb County37,638Adams County: 32,821 jobsAdams County32,821Kendall County: 28,503 jobsKendall County28,503Williamson County: 28,335 jobsWilliamson County28,335Vermilion County: 26,918 jobsVermilion County26,918Jackson County: 24,464 jobsJackson County24,464Coles County: 24,256 jobsColes County24,256Effingham County: 21,690 jobsEffingham County21,690Whiteside County: 20,746 jobsWhiteside County20,746Jefferson County: 19,817 jobsJefferson County19,817Grundy County: 19,200 jobsGrundy County19,200Knox County: 18,120 jobsKnox County18,120Stephenson County: 17,336 jobsStephenson County17,336Boone County: 16,356 jobsBoone County16,356Ogle County: 15,900 jobsOgle County15,900Morgan County: 14,008 jobsMorgan County14,008Henry County: 13,760 jobsHenry County13,760Livingston County: 13,720 jobsLivingston County13,720Lee County: 13,153 jobsLee County13,153Marion County: 12,828 jobsMarion County12,828Randolph County: 12,274 jobsRandolph County12,274Clinton County: 12,243 jobsClinton County12,243Cook County: 2,572,191 jobsCook County2,572,191DuPage County: 620,473 jobsDuPage County620,473Lake County: 335,598 jobsLake County335,598Will County: 239,989 jobsWill County239,989Kane County: 209,820 jobsKane County209,820Sangamon County: 129,179 jobsSangamon County129,179Winnebago County: 126,019 jobsWinnebago County126,019Peoria County: 103,264 jobsPeoria County103,264Madison County: 98,819 jobsMadison County98,819McHenry County: 97,742 jobsMcHenry County97,742St. Clair County: 93,862 jobsSt. Clair County93,862Champaign County: 90,028 jobsChampaign County90,028McLean County: 83,436 jobsMcLean County83,436Rock Island County: 73,871 jobsRock Island County73,871Tazewell County: 50,089 jobsTazewell County50,089Macon County: 49,320 jobsMacon County49,320Kankakee County: 44,961 jobsKankakee County44,961LaSalle County: 42,841 jobsLaSalle County42,841DeKalb County: 37,638 jobsDeKalb County37,638Adams County: 32,821 jobsAdams County32,821Kendall County: 28,503 jobsKendall County28,503Williamson County: 28,335 jobsWilliamson County28,335Vermilion County: 26,918 jobsVermilion County26,918Jackson County: 24,464 jobsJackson County24,464Coles County: 24,256 jobsColes County24,256Effingham County: 21,690 jobsEffingham County21,690Whiteside County: 20,746 jobsWhiteside County20,746Jefferson County: 19,817 jobsJefferson County19,817Grundy County: 19,200 jobsGrundy County19,200Knox County: 18,120 jobsKnox County18,120Stephenson County: 17,336 jobsStephenson County17,336Boone County: 16,356 jobsBoone County16,356Ogle County: 15,900 jobsOgle County15,900Morgan County: 14,008 jobsMorgan County14,008Henry County: 13,760 jobsHenry County13,760Livingston County: 13,720 jobsLivingston County13,720Lee County: 13,153 jobsLee County13,153Marion County: 12,828 jobsMarion County12,828Randolph County: 12,274 jobsRandolph County12,274Clinton County: 12,243 jobsClinton County12,243
jobs. Source: BLS, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2017
jobs		Change on 2016
1Cook County2,572,191+0.4%
2DuPage County620,473+1.3%
3Lake County335,598+0.9%
4Will County239,989+4.1%
5Kane County209,820+0.9%
6Sangamon County129,179+0.4%
7Winnebago County126,019-0.8%
8Peoria County103,264+2.8%
9Madison County98,819+0.9%
10McHenry County97,742+0.8%
11St. Clair County93,862+0.6%
12Champaign County90,028+0.5%
13McLean County83,436-0.3%
14Rock Island County73,871+2.8%
15Tazewell County50,089-9%
16Macon County49,320-0.1%
17Kankakee County44,961+3.9%
18LaSalle County42,841-0.2%
19DeKalb County37,638+0.1%
20Adams County32,821+1.5%
21Kendall County28,503+4.3%
22Williamson County28,335+1.2%
23Vermilion County26,918-1.4%
24Jackson County24,464-1.3%
25Coles County24,256+1.9%
26Effingham County21,690+5.6%
27Whiteside County20,746-0.8%
28Jefferson County19,817+0.6%
29Grundy County19,200+1.2%
30Knox County18,120-5.2%
31Stephenson County17,336+6.9%
32Boone County16,356-5.2%
33Ogle County15,900-0.6%
34Morgan County14,008-2.1%
35Henry County13,760-3%
36Livingston County13,720+0.4%
37Lee County13,153+1%
38Marion County12,828-0.2%
39Randolph County12,274-2.6%
40Clinton County12,243+0.8%
41Bureau County11,898+2.1%
42McDonough County10,908-2.2%
43Macoupin County10,347+2.1%
44Woodford County10,138+2.7%
45Christian County10,062-3.1%
46Logan County9,182+0.2%
47Montgomery County8,865+1.1%
48Monroe County8,692+5.7%
49Franklin County8,383+3.8%
50Fulton County8,346+0.2%
51Iroquois County7,958+0.7%
52Saline County7,713+0.8%
53Douglas County7,496+1.1%
54Jo Daviess County7,421-2.1%
55Edgar County7,212-0.5%
56Crawford County7,115-0.4%
57Warren County6,435+1.8%
58Washington County6,257+2.1%
59Richland County6,070+1.1%
60Cass County5,501+1%
61Clay County5,336+1.7%
62Fayette County5,282+1.6%
63De Witt County5,172-1%
64Jersey County4,959+0.6%
65Union County4,904-1.6%
66Moultrie County4,891-0.6%
67Shelby County4,872+1.5%
68Bond County4,730+1.2%
69Perry County4,657-2%
70Clark County4,654-2.3%
71Lawrence County4,600+1.6%
72Ford County4,505+0.4%
73White County4,247+0.5%
74Brown County4,127+2.2%
75Hancock County4,014+3.8%
76Pike County3,961-2.4%
77Carroll County3,894-1.5%
78Wayne County3,681-3.2%
79Piatt County3,531+7.1%
80Wabash County3,202-1.2%
81Mason County3,121+2.3%
82Mercer County3,069+2.3%
83Massac County3,022-9.7%
84Marshall County2,926-1.4%
85Cumberland County2,783+8.1%
86Edwards County2,335-2.2%
87Greene County2,316+0.3%
88Johnson County2,302-2.3%
89Hamilton County2,051+7.7%
90Jasper County1,922-6%
91Pulaski County1,850+32.3%
92Putnam County1,847-3.5%
93Menard County1,736-2.1%
94Schuyler County1,556+1.1%
95Stark County1,341-1%
96Gallatin County1,245+0.3%
97Alexander County1,198+1.8%
98Henderson County1,072+1.5%
99Scott County1,029+1%
100Calhoun County760-1.4%
101Hardin County675-1.5%
102Pope County602+6%

Other periods

About this ranking

Average number of jobs covered by unemployment insurance during the year, all industries, private and government, from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Counted where the job is located, from the reports employers file each quarter; monthly employment counts the jobs in the pay period that includes the 12th.

Counts jobs, not people: someone with two jobs counts twice. Covers about 95 percent of US wage and salary jobs. Excludes the self-employed, most agricultural workers on small farms, the armed forces, elected officials in most states, most railroad employees, some domestic workers and most student workers at schools. A count of employer reports, not a survey estimate like oews_employment.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the counties are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2017/a/industry/10.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2026). Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties (Counties in Illinois by covered employment (QCEW), 2017) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2017/a/industry/10.csv

MLA 9

Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties, Counties in Illinois by covered employment (QCEW), 2017. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 21 Aug. 2026, https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2017/a/industry/10.csv. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/illinois-counties?period=2017. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2026. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. Counties in Illinois by covered employment (QCEW), 2017. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2017/a/industry/10.csv. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/illinois-counties?period=2017.

Harvard

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026) Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties, Counties in Illinois by covered employment (QCEW), 2017 [Dataset]. Available at: https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2017/a/industry/10.csv, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/illinois-counties?period=2017 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{bureau_counties_in_illinois_by_2017,
  author = {{U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics}},
  title = {{Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties: Counties in Illinois by covered employment (QCEW), 2017}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2017/a/industry/10.csv},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/illinois-counties?period=2017. Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2017/a/industry/10.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
TI  - Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties: Counties in Illinois by covered employment (QCEW), 2017
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/08/21
PB  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2017/a/industry/10.csv
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/illinois-counties?period=2017
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/illinois-counties?period=2017.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2017/a/industry/10.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

Which county has the highest covered employment (QCEW)?

Cook County, with 2,572,191 jobs in 2017, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Which county has the lowest covered employment (QCEW)?

Pope County, with 602 jobs in 2017.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Covered employment (QCEW): other rankings

Counties in Illinois: more rankings